Pectate lyases: Their role in plants and importance in fruit ripening

•Pectate lyases have a wide range of potential roles in plant development.•Until recently the importance of pectate lyases was linked to plant pathogensis.•Studies of plant genomes reveal many pectate lyase genes.•Pectate lyase is important in tomato fruit ripening.•Pectate lyases play a role in softening of many types of fleshy fruits.